Nick grumbled, sitting on the couch of the apartment he and Judy shared. He looked out the window. It was a cold winter's day, and also pouring down rain. Nick looked at his phone. No response from calling Judy to see how she was faring in the weather. She'd just gone out to the grocery store, and Nick found himself a bit anxious for her arrival. His ears perked as he heard some footsteps in the hall.
"Nick, I'm here!" Judy's voice finally came from the other side of the door. Nick let loose a terse sound of relief, springing up from the couch and heading to open the door for her. Nick's eyes widened when the drenched bunny was revealed, carrying a mostly-dry bag of groceries in her hands. "And I'm s-soaked!"
"Judy, are you crazy?" Nick took the groceries from her and turning around to go put them down. "It's nearly freezing out there! Why didn't you just wait under an awning or something?"
"Th-the sky opened up on me ruh-right before I got home," Judy explained, starting to remove her wet clothes. "I fuh-figured I might as well make a run for it. I huh-hope you don't mind me getting out of these wet things as soon as I can."
"Go ahead! I don't want you to get hypothermia!" Nick nodded in concern. "Let me get a towel for you and set one to tumble in the dryer for few minutes."
"Th-Thanks, Nick," Judy giggled, shaking herself off a bit. Nick hadn't even noticed she was stripping nude just a couple of steps inside their apartment. He did, however, notice when he headed back with a towel. His eyes widened.
"Well, uh, I gotta admit, I thought you would head into your room first and just have me slip you the towel," Nick blinked, his eyes unavoidably taking in the naked bunny.
Judy grabbed the towel and started drying off with it, not even making a special effort to cover herself. "We live t-together, Nick. What's a little nnh-nudity between roommates?"
Nick's eyebrow raised, then his eyes narrowed, and he put his hands on his hips, leaning over slightly. "Okay, who are you, and what have you done with my partner?" Judy laughed at this. "The Judy Hopps I know almost had a panic attack when she saw a few dozen naked animals."
"Yeah, because I don't want to see random animals I don't know naked?" Judy shrugged. "It's just you, Nick. I don't care." She continued drying off, eventually finally wrapping the towel around herself. "Enjoy the show?" She smirked.
"Uh, let me go see if that towel's warm enough yet," Nick looked down and rubbed the bridge of his muzzle with his fingertips. He retrieved the towel after a short time and again got a glimpse of all of Judy's gray and white fur as he traded her cold, wet towel for his warm, dry one. He tried not to let his face betray emotion, but his ears were hot.
"Thanks, Nick, I feel a lot better now, mmm," Judy said cheerfully, snuggling into the warm towel. It was one of Nick's towels, so she was able to wrap herself up fully in it; only her neck and head poking out from the white-colored towel. Nick found it odd how his opinion of her looks could swing from attractive to adorable in mere seconds.
"So uh, can I ask a question?" Nick bit his lip, his eyes shifting away from Judy.
"Mhm," Judy grinned. Her ears were starting to perk up, owing to her warmth, dryness, and good mood.
"There's a... a part of you I saw that... I, er..." Nick's ears blazed.
"Wow, Nick, did you fail basic anatomy?" Judy gave him a pitying smile.
"No no no!" Nick shut his eyes and waved his open hands back and forth. "Not... well, it's on your chest...?"
"Oh, this?" Judy let the towel drop a bit to expose her shoulders and the top of her chest, which had a small, heart-shaped tuft of fur just under her neck.
Nick tried not to stare, but he was unable to look away. His voice was hushed. "Dear sweet baby hippos..."
"That's my dewlap!" Judy explained in a perky voice. "I'm a lean bunny, so I only really get it with my winter coat, when I'm fluffier anyway."
"That is a very interesting thing that I did not know," Nick said distantly, and went over to the groceries to put some of them away, wiping the wet items with paper towels.
"What's the matter, don't like it?" Judy teased, placing her towel back to fully cover her body and going to help Nick with the groceries. He flinched when he saw her in close proximity again.
"Uh, 'like' isn't the word I'd use," Nick gave a cough.
Judy laughed pleasantly. "Oh Nick, you're such a simple fox, after all, huh? You can never resist the fluffy stuff."
"No, I can't," Nick confirmed. "So uh, I'd appreciate it if you didn't tease me with it. After all, I didn't know about your dewlap thing until today."
"I think it's important for us as partners to know each others' strengths and weaknesses," Judy grinned devilishly, catching Nick's eye. "Now, during the winter, all I have to do is a little something like..." she barely exposed her dewlap at him, making him take in a sharp breath. Judy spoke in a coquettish, high-pitched voice, twisting her hips back and forth. "Nick, could you go do this or that for me, please?"
"Don't mock me, you fluffy temptress!" Nick pointed dramatically at her, but then his fingers opened up. "No, stop!" Nick grabbed at his wrist with his other hand as it tried to move closer to Judy, the hands vibrating a bit. "Judy, please! Punch me in the arm or something; douse me with a glass cold water!"
"This is way more fun," Judy shook her head, grinning with barely-opened eyes. "Look at you, getting so worked up over a tiny bit of fluff."
"That could just about describe our relationship in its entirety, really," Nick droned blithely, trying to look away.
"One touch," Judy smirked.
"I don't think I should-" Nick started, but was interrupted by his hand reaching to touch the fluff. Nick squinted his eyes shut and let loose a rather high whine, trying not to squeal or coo in delight.
"What a maroon," Judy shook her head, her voice carrying a warm, yet mocking tone. "Feel better now?" Nick withdrew his hand, and looked out the window.
"I think I should probably go outside and stand in the cold rain for a minute or two," Nick moved his hands through his ears, which felt like they were burning.
"Ooh, does that mean I get to see you in a towel or less next?" Judy grinned, heading for her room, looking at him over her shoulder.
"Is winter also when you bunnies go into heat?" Nick asked in exasperation, placing one hand on his hip.
"Bunnies don't go into heat, Nick, tsk tsk tsk," Judy shook her head, wiggling her index finger. "They really didn't teach you anything about us, huh? We're kind of always like this." Judy gave him a flirty wave and shut the door.
"Great, just my luck," Nick held his arms out wide. "I decided to move in with a fluffy, flirty bunny. Clearly, I didn't know what I was getting into."
"Well, I'm getting into some clothes right now, so don't worry that tiny little primal fox brain of yours," Judy teased through her door.
Nick closed his eyes and let loose a prolonged sigh. He always forgot just how good Judy's hearing was.
Oh well, he thought. Now he had another reason to look forward to winter.